Kissing Eden (14 page)

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Where do you want all these flowers, Eden?” Pick called from the tailgate of his truck. He and Connor were loaded down with more cast-off wedding decorations.

Marin had dug deeper into
her mother’s storage building and found a luau themed wedding box. I only wished I had time to snap a picture of the Texas duo in their cowboy hats and tropical flowers.

“Can you boys drape them on the edges of the pool fence?” I was trying to help the DJ with the sound system.
I pointed to the entrance gate to the pool.

“We’re not decorators, but we’ll give it a try.” Pick clumsily started twisting the purple and orange silk flowers along the railing.

Marin was in a deep conversation with Mac about the food. We were keeping it simple with some barbecue and an assortment of finger foods. People weren’t really coming for the food, but it wouldn’t be a true luau without a roasted pig on the menu.

I had put everything on my credit card—a minor detailed I hadn’t yet discussed with Grey. I told him I would take care of everything and it wasn’t important enough to bother him with deposit funds. Mac was floating us the kegs until I could pay him back after the luau.

I watched my new friends scurrying around, putting the finishing touches on the party. The Palm Palace guests had already started emerging from their rooms. We had been able to corral them on the beach most of the day, but now that the DJ had arrived, they were ready to be a part of the action. I didn’t have much time before the other spring breakers arrived.

“Marin, I’m going to get changed and I’ll be right back. Do you have everything under control?”
My question was mostly rhetorical.

“I could throw a wedding in my sleep—it’s hereditary.” She laughed and I thought I saw a look of panic flash across Pick’s face. “Go get ready. We’ve got this.”

“You’re the best. Oh, and can you light the tiki torches?” I noticed there were twenty more in place than when we started setting up.

“Yes, ma’am. Go.”
She shooed me with her hand.

I hugged her and jogged to Grey’s room. The day in the sun had created more than one perspiration stain on my shirt
, and I was ready to change into something more girly. It was my last night in South Padre. My last night with Grey and all of the wonderful people who had taken me in like one of their longtime friends. I needed to make it count.

Grey had given me a sliver of the sliding closet. I didn’t have much, so it was one time when a little closet space was more than enough. I pulled the dress I had chosen for the luau from the garment bag and held it up. Shower first, then dress I reminded myself. I didn’t want any traces of the
day’s clean up and party prep on it.

I stepped into the cool shower. My shoulders were slightly pink from the sun. No amount of sunscreen could stop the sun in Texas. The water felt good. I emerged from the shower
feeling silky smooth and more like a tropical flower and less like a cactus.

I pulled my hair into a twist and clipped a big pink flower on the side. Renee had ordered all kinds of luau accessories for Sandy’s Surf Shop when she heard about the party. I pulled the yellow dress over my hips and reached behind to zip it to the middle of my back. My feet slid into the sandals I had bought the first day.

I laid the Hawaiian shirt on the bed that Renee said was for Grey. He hadn’t exactly agreed to wear it, but in the spirit of the party, he might surprise me. He still wasn’t back from the mainland maintenance run. He had fixed the icemaker and the main dryer only to be plagued with two air conditioners that had gone out. He promised they were simple fixes but he had easily been gone three hours. I checked my phone for the time. Fifteen minutes until show time.

The door to room twenty-four closed behind me as I headed to the party I had thrown together in record time.

“Don’t you look like a ray of sunshine?” Mac greeted me in the parking lot.

“Thanks, Mac.” I hugged the bartender. “Wow, it looks like a real luau out here.”

“I can’t say that I’ve ever been to Hawaii, but yeah, you put something real special together for Grey.” He beamed at me like a proud parent.

“Have you seen him anywhere?” I searched the group mulling behind the food and beer table
.

“Not yet. But he’ll be here. Sometimes the mainland has traffic.”

“Traffic, huh?” I knew Mac was trying to reassure me.

“Look at you, Carolina.”
Pick and Connor had returned from a quick shower. They looked clean-shaven.

“You both look handsome.”
I eyed the Texas boys in their Hawaiian shirts, boots, and cowboy hats.

“We try.” Pick put his arm around me. “Where’s Grey?”

“Air conditioners went out. He had to make a parts run so the guests don’t spontaneously combust.” I tried to keep my voice peppy, but I was starting to worry he hadn’t returned.

“
Darlin’, he’ll be back soon.” Connor put his arm around my other shoulder. “In the meantime, can we get you something to drink?” Connor was acting extra sweet.

It crossed my mind that Laura had told him about the scene I made at Pete’s. I should probably have been more embarrassed than I was.

“A beer would be awesome. Thanks, Connor.” Was it just last Saturday he had tried to get me a drink at the bonfire?

I waited at the pool gate while the lean cowboy fetched a drink for me.
He loped toward me with a fruity drink topped with an umbrella.

“Thanks.” I sipped on the coconut rum through the straw.

Connor shifted on his feet. “Eden, I wanted to apologize for my sister—and for me.”

My cheeks turned a bright crimson. “You don’t have to do that
, Connor.”

“I kind of do. I know how she gets about Grey and I might have had a hand in what happened at Pete’s.”
His head hung so low that the brim of the hat blocked all his features.

“So you heard about that?”
I wondered how many people knew about the night I dumped the drink in Grey’s face.

He
raised his chin so that his eyes met mine. “Yeah, not many secrets on the island. So, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have butted in like that. I guess I was disappointed that it was Grey and not me you were hanging out with. It was a shit move.”

I hugged him. “Thanks, Connor. Don’t worry about it.
I could have handled things better too.” He wasn’t the only one who had let jealousy get the best of him. I felt better knowing we had reestablished our friendship. Maybe now we could put the awkwardness behind us, as long as I didn’t have to see Laura.

Marin opened the gate at the top of steps for me. “
Whoa, look at you. Has Grey seen you all dressed in yellow?”

I blushed. “Not yet. He isn’t here.” I searched the parking lot for his truck. “I thought he’d be back by now.”

“He’ll be here. He’s not going to miss the luau.” She turned to show me the pool. “What do you think? It was a last minute idea that I borrowed from my mom.”

I looked at the floating candles dotting the surface of the water. “Marin
, it’s beautiful. You definitely have the wedding planner gene. This looks amazing.”

“Good. I thought you might like it
, and it’s romantic. You should lure Grey up here for a little one-on-one time.” She winked. “Now we just need some people.” She pulled one of the silk flowers from the garland and tucked it behind her ear.

Other than a few Palm Palace guests, no one else had arrived. I know being fashionably late was still a common party practice, but I had hoped more people would have begun to trickle in.

“What if no one shows?” I had a prickly feeling that had attacked the back of my neck.

“Don’t be silly. People love parties this time of year. This island is one big party. You’ll have people. They’re just extremely nocturnal—the later, the better.”

“I hope you’re right. If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll tell Grey. He trusted me to do this. I promised him it would keep the Palm afloat for a few months.”

“Hey, he did not put the fate of
the Palm in your hands. He knows what he’s dealing with here. What you did for him is incredible. It shows how much you love him. He knows that.”

The prickly feeling transferred from my neck to my stomach. “Did you just say the L-word?”

“Oh, come on, Eden. I don’t know what else it is.” She laughed. “Take a breath. In and out. That’s better.” She moved closer to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

She sounded a lot like my mom. “I can’t be
… I can’t love him. I leave tomorrow.” I stumbled to the nearest lounge chair.

“Are you back to that again? Love conquers all. Stop wasting time worrying about it and just do it.”

“Do it?”

“Yeah, love him. Love Grey.” Before she could lecture me anymore on how to navigate my love life, Pick whisked her up from behind and planted a kiss on her mouth.

“Pick, save some of that for later. I’m in the middle of serious girl talk.” She slapped him on the butt. “You ok, Eden?”

“Yes, absolutely. You two go dance or something.”

I smiled and watched as they wandered down to the makeshift dance floor. I envied how Marin approached her relationship. She didn’t let anything get in the way of her and Pick—not the age difference, not their friends, and not even her own heart. She was so smart.

Love him. That’s all I had to do. I just had to love Grey. It seemed clear.

From my view on the lounge chair, I watched as the luau guests started arriving. A stretch SUV pulled into the parking lot and I lost count after the fifteenth person climbed from the vehicle. The DJ cranked the music, and I felt the energy swirling around me. In ten minutes, the Palm turned into a revolving parking lot for taxicabs and shuttles. The spring breakers kept arriving.

I took another sip of my coconut drink, and straightened my dress. The p
arty had started and I couldn’t sit up here all night thinking about Grey. I walked down to the ticket entrance. We had opted for wristbands to tag all of the paid party guests. Mindy and Tara were behind the table collecting money and looping fluorescent bands around outstretched wrists.

It really had all come together. If only Grey
was here to see it.

“Do you two need any help?”
I asked over the bass from the speakers.

“No, I think we’re ok. We’ve got the best spot in the house
. We get to talk to the cute boys before they even make it to the dance floor.” Tara giggled. “And I get the extra pleasure of leing them.”

Mindy gave me a more reassuring look. “Don’t worry, Eden. I’ll make her behave and keep her from running off with any of your guests.” She yanked a handful of leis from Tara
, and placed them back on the table.

“Really, they can lei themselves. You don’t have to be so touchy
-touchy, Tara.”

They seemed comfortable with their banter, like sisters. “Thanks, girls. Let me know if you need a break or something.”

Confident Mindy and Tara would take care of the money table, I refilled my cup and walked toward the boardwalk. This would be my last night to see the Texas stars on the Padre beach. Last week, Grey had convinced me to walk with him to see a star display he promised I wouldn’t forget. I smiled, knowing I didn’t remember a single star from that night, but would always remember that first kiss.

I sipped the
fruity drink and inhaled the sweet saltiness of the air. The couple I had checked in last night slid past me, walking hand in hand for an early night stroll on the beach. I think they were from Maryland, but with all of the check-ins yesterday, I couldn’t keep all the colleges straight.

Wouldn’t it be fun if we had welcome kits for each of the rooms with their school logos or mascots on them? Marin’s wedding planning was rubbing off on me. I would have to write down the list of marketing ideas I had and share them with Grey.

“I thought that was you up here, babe.” As soon as I heard his voice, my chest hardened. It used to make me smile.

I spun around the best I could in my sandals. “What in the
hell are you doing here, Brett?”

He was wearing a smirk and a pink polo. He had popped the collar. “It’s a party.” He downed the rest of whatever was in his cup.

“Now that you’ve seen it, why don’t you leave?” Just being this close to Brett set me on edge.

I had seen that look in his eye before.
The one that gleamed when he stumbled upon a party that was like a free night in Vegas. Brett in Vegas was a scary thing. I never thought he would be here tonight. If I could have done anything to prevent this from happening, I would have. Why didn’t I predict this party would draw him in like a moth to a flame?

“
Whoa. You sound a little hostile. Still upset about the breakup?” He leaned over to whisper in my ear.

I stepped back. “No. I’m not upset about the stupid breakup. Why would you even say that? I’m upset about you. Where’s your date?” Brett looked surprisingly unattended.